What are Chicago's coldest days?

Video: Water bottle freezes in Chiberia before your eyes

Watch as this bottle of water freezes within seconds of being in the frigid temperatures of Chicagoland (-13 degrees, for instance!) on Jan. 6, 2014. (No, this is not an advertisement for Piggly Wiggly). Shot by Sharon Samuelson in South Elgin, Ill.

Watch as this bottle of water freezes within seconds of being in the frigid temperatures of Chicagoland (-13 degrees, for instance!) on Jan. 6, 2014. (No, this is not an advertisement for Piggly Wiggly). Shot by Sharon Samuelson in South Elgin, Ill.

Tribune staff

The Chicago area hit a new record low for today, and more records may still fall.

Today's high has been minus 13, but the low tonight is forecast to be between minus 12 and minus 16. This may set another new low for Jan. 7, eclipsing the record of minus 16 set in 1912.

The coldest temperature on the record books for Chicago is 27 degrees below zero on Jan. 20, 1985, according to the National Weather Service data. However, as frigid as it is, it's unlikely the area will crack the 13 coldest temperatures, by date, in Chicago:

Jan. 20, 1985: Low of -27

Jan. 10, 1982: Low of -26

Dec. 24, 1983: Low of -25

Jan. 16, 1982: Low of -25

Jan. 17, 1982: Low of -23

Jan. 19, 1985: Low of -23

Jan. 21, 1984: Low of -22

Dec. 22, 1872: Low of -21

Dec. 23, 1983: Low of -21

Jan. 18, 1994: Low of -21

Feb. 9, 1899: Low of -21

Jan. 9, 1875: Low of -20

Jan. 25, 1897: Low of -20

Today also could track among the lowest highs recorded in Chicago. The record is minus 11 set on Jan. 18, 1994 and Dec. 23, 1983.